Today's gospel asks us to consider the Pharisee's and the Sadducee's same question asked of Jesus, "which commandment in the law is the greatest" Christ speaks of the vital importance of Love, something we all can connect with and understand?even the part about loving our neighbors as we love ourselves. But many times the human condition confuses the idea of love, making it more akin to an emotional experience since that is what we are used to "in feeling" love in our human experience. But that is not what Jesus is talking about, at least not completely. Certainly Jesus considers the human side of love, the emotional or Hallmark-like expression of love. But in this gospel passage the love we are called to express or offer to God and neighbor is less emotionally based and more righteous-based.

Righteousness is meant to form us in doing something not because we want to or like to, or by doing it we will receive the praise of others, but rather righteousness commands that we do something because it is the Godly thing to do. We feed the hungry because everyone deserves food and water, we educate the ignorant because the Truth is meant for all, and we provide health care or protect the human person because it is what God wants us to do. We do not do something because it makes us feel good or become happy- that's a great after effect, a wonderful secondary reasoning but it is not why God asks us to do some-thing. Note that our first and deepest love is for God; then we are called to love our "neighbor" (family, friends and strangers) with the same kind of love we have for ourselves?a love that provides for them, cares for them, acts for them in justice as we would do for ourselves.

In a nutshell, this "righteous love" that Jesus tells us is the first and greatest of all the Commandments comes about as we align our wills to God's Will - something the last few weekend gospels have been speaking to. May our prayer this weekend and beyond be one that asks God for the heavenly wisdom to know His Love and Ways and ask for the grace of courage to act as God wants us to - in righteous love for all.